Janhvi, Ishaan, Vishal on Taking Homebound to Cannes | The Hollywood Reporter India

Sneha Menon Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India sits down with actors Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Vishal Jethwa at Cannes 2025, following their film's selection in the Un Certain Regard category. The trio shares the emotional moment of learning about their Cannes acceptance, with Janhvi describing her late-night phone call revelation and Ishaan recounting his locked-room celebration at home.

The conversation delves deep into director Neeraj Ghawan's immersive filmmaking approach, which the actors describe as transformative and healing. Vishal reveals how Ghawan's "Code 360" protocol created an unprecedented environment of respect and humanity on set, where every crew member was valued equally. Ishaan explains the director's unique preparation methods, including improvisation sessions that could last 20 minutes and location shoots in Uttar Pradesh that bonded the cast. Vishal, making his Cannes debut after his 2019 breakthrough in "Mardaani 2," reflects on the patience required to wait for meaningful roles.

The actors discuss their characters' impact on their personal growth, with Janhvi opening up about her privilege and social responsibility, describing how the role pushed her to become more curious about society and history. Ishaan details the physical and emotional challenges of his performance, particularly the grueling shooting schedule in Madhya Pradesh. The conversation touches on the surreal experience of having Martin Scorsese as executive producer, with voice notes from the legendary filmmaker analyzing their scenes.

As they prepare for their red carpet debut together, the trio emphasizes representing their country and culture at this prestigious festival, viewing their presence as bigger than individual achievement.